Drafting mechanism



Aug- 14, 1956 G. c. ANDERSON 2,758,340

DRAFTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 14, 1956 G. c. ANDERSON DRAFTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14. 1955 A INVENTOR.

Aug 14, 1956 G. c. ANDERSON 2,758,340

DRAFTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 14, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IFIG3 [FIG 4 ,4

INVENToR. @4

gum C. B21/(M1129 Unite DRAFTHNG MECHANISM Gordon C. Anderson, Biddeford, Maine, assignor to Saco- Lowell Shops, a corporation of Maine This invention relates to drafting elements of the type used on spinning and roving frames and more particularly to novel supporting and weighting structures for the drafting rolls of such elements.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to support and weight the top rolls of drafting elements by means of an overlying supporting member having a plurality of individual top roll weighting arms mounted thereon for engaging each of the top rolls, said rolls each being Weighted by means of a compression spring interposed between its arm and the overlying supporting member.

Although such arrangement is useful when employed in conjunction with many types of drafting elements, it has a serious defect when an attempt is made to use it with a modern drafting element of the apron type in which the top intermediate control roll is arranged for ready vertical adjustability to vary its depression of the apron and hence its control of the fibers being drafted. Such defect arises in that not only will the force provided by the compression spring be found to vary widely between the highest and lowest settings of the control roll due to varying compression of the spring, but the direction of the applied force will also change due to variation in angular position of the supporting arm as it is swung about its pivot. In short, such heretofore known structure is almost useless in certain Widely used types of modern drafting elements.

Accordingly, the present invention is aimed at providing a drafting element top roll supporting and weighting structure of the type having an overlying supporting member which is adapted for use on modern apron type drafting elements.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that the novel structure provided thereby is capable of quick and easy adjustment for uniform weighting, both as to force and direction of the top rolls whatever the vertically or longitudinally adjusted position of the top'intermediate control roll.

It is another feature of the invention that certain of the top rolls are supported for limited swinging movement in a transverse direction automatically to provide alinement of said top rolls with their cooperating bottom rolls.

lt is a still further feature of the invention that the structure provided has fewer parts and is of simpler and more compact construction than the. heretofore known arrangements.

For the: purpose of more fully describing still' further features and objects of the invention, referenceY is now made to the following specification describing a preferred embodiment thereof, together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the drafting element top roll supporting and weighting structure of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan, partly broken away, of the structure of Fig. 1,

States Patent O 2,758,340 Patented Aug. 14, 1956 Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional end elevation taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional end elevation taken on the line 4 4 ofFig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional end elevation taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, the construction therein shown comprises bottom front and rear rolls 2 and 3, respectively, suitably mounted in bearings on the frame of the machine, top rolls 4 and 5 cooperating with said respective bottom rolls to perform the drafting operation, and an intermediate control mechanism including a bottom roll 6 driving an apron 7, the latter being guided over an apron bar 8 and held stretched by the usual tension pulley (not shown). A top roll 12 supported by the apron bar 8 and the bottom roll 6 depresses the apron therebetween, the degree of such depression being determined by adjustment of the horizontal spacing between the slides 9 and 11 supporting the apron bar 8 and bottom roll 6 respectively. A spring clip 13 is provided on apron bar Sto engage the arbor of said top roll 12 releasably to maintain it in position. The top rolls 4, 5, and 12 each include an arbor having fiber contacting portions rotatably mounted on the ends thereof. This arrangementof drafting elements to provide either a two zone drafting system wherein the fiber is nipped at the control roll 12 or a single zone system wherein the ib'er is confined without being nipped is well known in the art and is here shown simply for convenience in disciosing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

According to the present invention, the top rolls 4, 5, and 12. are weighted and rolls 4 and 5 supported by a cantilever sheet metal supporting member of generally inverted U shape with a top 14 and sides 15 mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed shaft 16 on the machine frame at the rear portion thereof. Said supporting member is normally positioned rigidly over the bottom rolls 2, 3, and 6 by means of a toggle mechanism, but such mechanism may be released and the supporting member swung upwardly in a vertical plane about its shaft 16 to provide access to the drafting zone. The toggle mechanism for releasably maintaining said member in position includes a lever 18 pivoted at 26 on the machine frame. A link 22 extends between said lever 18 and the supporting member, said link being pivotally mounted on said member on shaft 24 extending between the sides 15 thereof at its rear portion and on said lever on shaft 26 so that the axis of said latter shaft is positioned forwardly of a line between lever pivot 29 and the axis of shaft 24 when lever 18 is in positionas shown overlying member- 14 to lock said member rigidly in weighting position. Upward swinging movement of said lever 13 about its pivot 2t) will swing shaft 26 rearwardly across said line and release the supporting member so that it may be swung upwardly in a vertical plane about its shaft 16.

In order to support and weight the front and intermediate top rolls 4 and 12, a long rear arm comprising a pair of side members 3@ and a front interconnecting member 31 is provided. The side members of said arm are mounted on a shaft 24 extending between supporting member sides 15' atthe rear end thereof for pivotal movement .in a vertical plane. The rear arm extends forwardly ina generally parallel relationship to the supporting member with its side members 3i! inside of and closely adjacent to sides 15 thereof to engage its forward longitudinally extended end connecting member 31 with the arbor of intermediate top control roll 12. Extending transversely between the side members 3i) of said long rear arm is a shaft 32 having therein a vertically extending tapped hole 34 for receiving the threaded portiony of adjusting screw 36. The upper portion of said screw extends-freely through a hole-in theftop 14 of the supporta1 ing member and has an enlarged head 38 of greater diameter than that of the hole in top 14 adapted to engage said top 14 and so limit the extent of downward travel of said arm.

The lower end of said screw loosely supports the rear end of forward arm 4b which arm extends forwardly in a generally parallel relationship to the supporting member to engage its forward end bearings with the arbor of front top roll 4. The loose support is provided by a ball support 41 mounted on the end of screw 36 beneath the arm 40 to permit transverse swinging movement for automatic roll alinement as well as vertical swinging movement. A spring clip 42 is preferably provided on said arm to maintain said top roll in said bearings even when the supporting member is swung upwardly about its pivot. The forward arm passes above the forward interconnecting end member 31 of the rear arm and is out of contact therewith. A stop pin 6i? extending between the side members 1S of the overlying supporting member limits the extent of downward swinging movement of the forward arm 40 as when the overlying supporting member is swung upwardly to inoperative position. In order to provide weighting pressure for the top rolls 4 and 12 engaged by the lirst and second arms respectively, a pair of coil compression springs 44 are interposed between the upper surface of forward arm 4i? and the lower surface of top 14 of the supporting member and are maintained in position by suitable locating lugs thereon, such springs pressing downwardly said arms to engage said top rolls with their cooperating bottom rolls.

With the above described arrangement, uniform weighting pressure may be provided on both the front and control rolls, irrespective of the vertical or longitudinal adjusted position of control roll 12 as determined by the horizontal spacing oi apron bar 8 and bottom roll 6, upon which said control roll is supported, from bottom front roll 2. and from one another. This is so because the longitudinally extended bottom interconnecting member 31 will Contact roll 12 over the entire longitudinal distance through which roll 12 may be adjusted, and screw 3o may be adjusted in its tapped hole 34 until springs 44 are of a desired length and hence force, as indicated by the flush relationship of the head of said screw with the top surface of member 14. Furthermore, the long length of the rear lever, together with the slanted surface of its roll contacting portion 31, can be arranged to make negligible the change in force applied between control roll 12 and its lower roll 6 in any longitudinal or vertical position thereof.

The rear top roll is supported and weighted by a short third arm Sil loosely mounted by a ball member 51 for both vertical and horizontal swinging movement on a bracket 52 attached to top 14 of the supporting member by means of a screw 54 longitudinally adjustable in a slot 5S therein. Said bracket has a forward downwardly extending portion providing a stop limiting the downward movement of said arm when the overlying supporting member is swung upwardly. The forward end of arm 50 is provided with suitable bearings for engaging the arbor of rear top roll 5 and with a spring clip 56 for maintaining said roll in said bearings when the arm is moved upwardly. A weighting spring 58 is interposed between the upper surface of arm Sil and the lower surface of bracket 52 in contact with member 14 to engage said roll in cooperating relationship with its bottom roll 3. The entire rear roll supporting and weighting assembly being positioned between side members 30 of the long rear arm, adjustment of the rear roll is independent 0f said long arm but its amount is limited by the length of the slot in the supporting member.

In operation then, the supporting and weighting member 14, when locked by the toggle lever 18 into operative position overlying bottom rolls 2, 3, and 6, provides a rigid cantilever support against which weighting springs 44 and 53 will be compressed to engage 'the top rolls with their respective bottom rolls. The weighting pressure of springs 44, as explained above, can be adjusted by means of adjusting screw 3o to be independent of the set vertical position of intermediate top control roll 12, and due to the relatively long length of the rear arm and the slanted surface of member 31, the pressure between said roll and its bottom roll, as well as the pressure between the front rolls will be substantially uniform. The rear top roll 5 can be adjusted longitudinally by moving bracket 52. and .its screw 54 along slot 5S Without disturbany adjustment of the front and intermediate rolls. if toggle lever 18 be released, the overlying supporting member 14 may be swung upwardly, carrying with it front and rear rolls 4 and 5, the intermediate roll being retained in position by its spring clip 13. All of said top rolls may be readily removed for cleaning and the like, by snapping rolls 4 and 5 out of their respective retaining sprint? clips, and by simply lifting roll 12.

Thus, it will be seen that the invention has provided a noveldrafting element top roll weighting and supporting arrangement wherein uniform weighting may be applied irrespective of the setting of a vertically and longitudinally adjustable intermediate top control roll, or other fiber control element such as, for example, of the overlying short apron type wherein the weight .is applied to the supporting cage rather than directly to the top roll associated therewith. These known elements are intended to be included by the term rolls as used herein, Various other modications of the invention within the spirit thereof and the scope of the appended claims will occur to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. In a drafting mechanism having a plurality of pairs of top and bottom rolls positioned to act successively on a sliver, a supporting member overlying said top and bottom rolls, a iirst arm supported in a generally parallel relationship to said member for pivotal movement in a vertical plane relative thereto and engaging one of said top rolls, a second arm supported on said rst arm in a generally parallel relationship to said member for pivotal movement in a vertical plane relative thereto and engaging another of said top rolls, and resilient means interposed between said second arm and said member for pressing said top rolls engaged by said rst and second arms into cooperating relationship with their respective bottom rolls.

2. In a drafting mechanism as claimed in claim l wherein at least one of said arms is loosely supported for limited movement in a generally horizontal plane.

3. In a drafting mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second arm is supported on said trst arm for adjustable vertical movement of its pivot point to provide uniform weighting pressure on said top rolls irrespective of their relative vertical adjustment.

4. In a drafting mechanism as claimed in claim l wherein said iirst arm has a longitudinally extending surface for engaging its top roll to engage said roll in any one of a plurality of longitudinally adjusted positions thereof.

5. In a drafting mechanism as claimed in claim l wherein said supporting member is releasably mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane from a position overlying said bottom rolls.

6. In a drafting mechanism having a plurality of pairs of top and bottom rolls positioned to act successively on a sliver, an overlying cantilever supporting member releasably mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane from a position overlying said bottom rolls, a rst arm supported on said member in generally parallel relationship thereto for pivotal movement in a vertical plane relative thereto and engaging one of said top rolls, a second arm supported on said irst arm in a generally parallel relationship to said member for pivotal movement in a vertical plane and for vertically adjustable movement of its pivot point relative thereto and engaging another of said top rolls and spring means interposed between said second arm and said member for pressing said top rolls engaged by said rst `and second arms into cooperating relationship with their respective bottom rolls.

7. In a drafting mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein toggle means are provided for releasably maintaining said mem-ber in position overlying said bottom rolls.

8. In a drafting mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein a third arm is supported on said member in generally parallel relationship thereto for pivotal movement in a vertical plane relative thereto and engaging a third one of said top rolls, and further spring means are interposed between said third arm and said member for pressing said top roll into cooperating relationship with its respective lbottom roll.

9. In a drafting mechanism as claimed in claim 8/ wherein said third arm is loosely supported on said member for horizontal as well as vertical movement.

10. A supporting and weighting structure yfor drafting mechanism having a plurality of pairs of top and bottom rolls positioned to act successively on a sliver, including an overlying cantilever sheet metal supporting member of inverted U shape releasably mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a first arm supported for pivotal movement in a vertical plane on said member at the rearward portion thereof and having a pair of sheet metal side members extending forwardly relatively parallel to said overlying supporting member and lying within and adjacent to the sides thereof, said side members having a forward interconnecting longitudinally extending member for engaging one of said top rolls, a second arm supported for pivotal movement in a vertical plane at its rearward end on said first arm at a position between said point of support of said rst arm and said point of engagement of said rst arm with said top roll, said second arm being supported at its rearward end for adjustable vertical movement of its pivot point relative to said second arm and extending forwardly between the side members thereof to engage another of said top rolls, and spring means interposed between said second arm and said supporting member for pressing said top rolls engaged by said arms into cooperating relationship with their respective bottom rolls.

11. A supporting and weighting structure as claimed in claim 10 wherein said second arm is loosely supported for horizontal as well as vertical movement about its pivot point.

12. A supporting and weighting structure as claimed in claim 10 wherein said second arm is supported at its rearward end for adjustable vertical movement of its pivot by a screw engaging a tapped hole in a shaft extending between and supported by said sheet metal side members.

13. A supporting and weighting structure as claimed in claim 10, further having stop means for limiting the downward swinging movement of said first and second arms when said supporting member is swung upwardly.

14. A supporting and weighting structure as claimed in claim 10 wherein a third arm is mounted for adjustable longitudinal movement relative to said supporting member by a bracket positioned forwardly of the point of support of said rst arm between the side members thereof, said arm being pivoted on said bracket and extending forwardly of said pivot point.

15. A supporting and weighting structure as claimed in claim 14 wherein a stop is provided on said bracket for limiting the downward swinging movement of said third arm when said supporting member is swung upwardly.

16. A supporting and weighting structure as claimed in claim 14 further having means for retaining said top rolls engaged by said second and third arms in contact with said arms when said supporting member is swung upwardly.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,662,249 Neu Dec. 15, 1953 2,688,162 Solanas Sept. 7, 1954 2,694,230 Dausch Nov. 16, 1954 2,717,426 Noguera Sept. 13, 1955 

